DIY avocado face mask is perfect for soothing dry winter skin

Sarah's love of food led her down what she calls "the culinary rabbit hole," leaving her management job to first apprentice on an organic vegetable farm and then to write about and photograph food professionally. Her agricultural backgro...

This face mask will nourish your chapped winter face

Face masks can serve a number of purposes. Some cleanse, others tighten, but this time of year I look for those that nourish. Tanking temperatures and windy weather can lead to dry, even chapped, skin and I find a moisturizing face mask helps reverse the impact of the elements.

This "single-serving" face mask uses three common groceries to nurture skin:

Avocado has oils that soften skin and antioxidants, like Vitamin E, that promote healing.

Honey moisturizes and has antibacterial properties.

Apple cider vinegar helps restore skin's natural pH levels.

DIY soothing face mask

This recipe makes one face mask. I like to mix this up anytime I cut open and don't need an entire avocado — resourceful and beautifying. If you have any left over, it also doubles as a hair mask. Just apply to your roots and scalp and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing. Don't skip removing the mask with a washcloth, as this serves to gently exfoliate.

Ingredients:

1/4 avocado

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar*

Directions:

In a small bowl, use a fork to mash the avocado with the honey and vinegar. Use the back of a spoon to continue mashing the mixture into a puree. Alternatively, blend in a mini food processor or push through a fine mesh sieve.

*If you have never applied apple cider vinegar to your skin, test the mask on a small patch of skin before proceeding. A common side effect of apple cider vinegar is temporary redness but the test will ensure you do not have a stronger reaction.